Larry Keller still in flight school at Big Springs, Texas, proudly displays his flight suit and helmet.Keller was hired last spring to replace Mike Dunn as Cheney School District superintendent. - Contributed photo

...

The walls of Larry Keller's office are sparse and unremarkable.The room is neat and orderly, just a few acknowledgements from previous school districts, one where he served as the mascot.

On his desk, a picture of his wife of 35 years, Karen, and his two adult children.The only remnant of his previous life is a 4-inch by 6-inch photo high on a book shelf of Keller on the bow of an aircraft that had just landed after his return from Operation Desert Storm.There are many retired military officers whose career are decorated with awards and recognition, but Keller, the new Cheney School District superintendent, doesn't flaunt his accomplishments in the Air Force.Keller said he doesn't want to be seen as an ex-military officer turned school administrator because the stigma some people have about military leadership is stereotypically viewed as overly regimented and unwilling to see an alternate perspective.Keller said his leadership ideals are more about accountability and communication; something he learned in the Air Force, but has found to be universally effective.The early daysKeller was born the oldest son of a factory worker in Aberdeen, Wash.He has one older sister and two younger siblings.When he was 5 years old, his father got a job at Continental Can Company in Olympia.His mother was a homemaker.Keller grew up working with his father.When the younger Keller begun college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg majoring in education, he continued working for his father during vacations from school.During his sophomore year, he saw a reserve officer's training corp. (ROTC) poster on campus.He inquired about it further and learned the commitment would be worth the time."You're gonna pay me to go to school?"Keller mused.That was 1969 and the timing couldn't have been better.The Vietnam War was raging and the military started looking further for more help.The Department of Defense adopted the "lottery" system and Keller found out his draft number was 36.It was common belief that any number under 122 meant a guaranteed draft notice and in all likelihood a tour of duty in Southeast Asia.The teaching deferment was popular.If a male was teaching he could possibly be exempt from the draft.After 1969, the government no longer recognized teaching deferments.It was getting harder to legally avoid the draft.Young men of that era had four choices: graduate college, go to Canada, go to prison or serve in Vietnam.In June 1971, Keller graduated from CWU with a degree in education and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S Air Force.He persevered through flight school at Webb Air Force Base, in Big Springs, Texas.Keller described the sparsely populated west Texas as, "the middle of nowhere." The Air Force flight academy trained on T-37s, which are a twin-engine jet that seats a pilot trainer and a student.They are commonly used for training in lieu of larger and faster aircraft.During flight training, Keller said the students were "under a microscope everyday."He said there was classroom instruction and hands-on instruction, including flying, which created a lot of pressure.There were also daily evaluations by which the trainees were held to very high standards.Keller explained how the trainees knew what was going on with other classmates.He said they watched the "wall of wings," where every trainee had a pair of wings next to their name on a board in the hall.Throughout academy training, names and wings continuously disappeared from the wallKeller said he was in a large class.Of the 72 that started, only 48 graduated flight academy.He said trainees were removed two ways: self-initiated elimination and being removed by the Air Force.To remove a trainee from flight academy, Keller said there was a basic procedure.He said when a student demonstrated a pattern of substandard performances or failure, the trainees went through a review process where their ability is assessed and they are tested.If they pass, they were returned to class.If they fail, they were removed.Keller said flying a jet is hard, especially landing.He said the task requires a lot of physical coordination, hand-eye coordination, decision making while maintaining radio contact."You have to quickly get used to the environment you're in," Keller said."You have to work at it."By the time Keller graduated from flight school in December 1972, the U.S. had begun a draw down of troops in Vietnam, so he was spared serving in combat.Instead of war, Keller's first duty station was Cocoa Beach, Florida.He supported NASA flying an EC-135N "stratolifter."An Air Force reshaping in the 1970s took Keller out of the cockpit.He began serving in administrative position where he begun to hone his leadership skills.Despite not liking computers very well, Keller was assigned command of the Air Force personnel data systems.He learned to let trained people do their jobs when he supervised over 500 people who supported over 312,000 Air Force service members.Keller said the hardest promotion was from major to lieutenant colonel.He said it is a rank where an officer transitions to a career in the Air Force.Keller said Lieutenant General Robert Ludwig was a great influence in shaping the commander Keller became.Keller said Lieutenant General Robert Ludwig was a great influence in shaping the commander Keller became.

...

In 1991, during the onset of the Persian Gulf war, Keller realized the purpose of his career."You hope you never have to be in combat," he said."I trained so long I was eager to go."He was assigned a refueling capacity in Saudi Arabia.He landed there Jan. 6, 1991, and began work immediately.He had 31 flight crews arriving in 10 days, which is a logistics challenge.He also had to brief the arriving crews about their operations, and get air patrols established. "Part of leadership is figuring out how to get people ready to do what is needed for the best result," Keller said.Keller was awarded a Bronze Star and an Air Medal for leadership during Operation Desert Storm.By spring 1998, he was ready to call it quits.Keller woke up one morning and decided to retire."I knew in my heart and gut this was the time to make a change,"

After retirementKeller delayed his retirement six months to help his unit pass a nuclear inspection.He officially separated from the Air Force in January 1999 after 28 years of service.At the time, he was the vice-commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base.With an abundance of idle time on hid hands, Keller took time to decompress and figure out "what's important to me." Many retired Air Force pilots go to work for the airlines, but Keller shunned the idea.He said there is no challenge and no leadership.He got a part-time job for 20 hours a week making deliveries for Columbia Paints. He took a certification course at Eastern Washington University to "see what changed" since he attended CWU.After earning his master's degree and receiving his principal certificate, Keller left the classroom and entered education administration.He was awarded most effective administrator of the year by the Washington Association of School Administrators.He also received an award of merit.His experience at Pateros and Mansfield School District readied him for the rigors of the Cheney School District. Keller understands building process and obtaining facilities and he has knowledge of the West Plains.He said he will continue to build up what Mike Dunn started."I am vested in this community," Keller said."I plan to be very visible."For the future, Keller said he is looking ahead.He said he wants to have the best plans laid for the district for the next five or 10 years.He said there will be additional facilities based on growth.He said it's inevitable.The challenge is paying for it."That's a big, big, job," Keller said. It's a huge undertaking, but Keller said he's up to it.He said he wants to get his hands dirty."I want to bring a sense of leadership to the district and have good relations with everyone I work with," Keller said.

I have known Larry Keller for over 12 years, including working under his leadership for seven of those years.
He is a man of uncompromising honor who puts others before himself and demonstrates integrity in all that he does.

He not only helped Cheney Public Schools maintain their status during tough economic times, he led it into the future.
I have had the opportunity to listen to Keller speak on several occasions.
Each time I am impressed with his grasp of the issues the Spokane and West Plains areas face, and his vision on how best to address those issues.

Keller is definitely a leader for the people.
Let's elect a leader for us.
Vote for Larry Keller for state representative, District 6, Position 2.

...

I attended Larry Keller's campaign kick-off in Cheney last week, and for the first time in a very long time I am excited about supporting a candidate.
Over the years I have become so disenchanted with our political system, including the incivility and the insincere "I'll-give-you-everything-you-want" promises that now characterize our election campaigns.

It is so refreshing to have somebody like Larry Keller, who is a gentleman and a leader who knows how to get things done.

...

Larry has proven time and time again - in the face of difficult national security challenges as well as complex education issues - that he is the right leader for the job.
I encourage you to check out Larry Keller's track record and join me in electing him as state representative.

...

Cheney School District Superintendent Larry Keller will challenge Rep.

...

Keller, who lives on Granite Lake Road in the West Plains, is set to retire from his job as Cheney's superintendent in June, but he plans to begin his campaign in earnest in the coming weeks.He filed as a Republican with the Public Disclosure Commission Monday, April 9.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Keller said he decided to run for the 6th District position following news that redistricting would bring a large part of the West Plains into the 6th, which currently covers west and south Spokane.
"It's something I've thought about for quite awhile, but with the redistricting of the 6th district, specifically now that most of the West Plains will be in the sixth, I got to thinking about the growth out here," he said.
"I think we need a voice for Spokane and the West Plains.
We're becoming an economic force out here."
Keller said he planned to base his campaign on improving the state budgeting system, limiting cuts to education and promoting civility in the Legislature.

As Cheney schools superintendent, Keller often expressed frustration with the Legislature's cuts to K-12 education as well as budget delays.
Even now, he said, the school district is waiting to draft a budget until after the Legislature acts on the state document.

"I just think we can do better," he said.
"I can do better.
He said he was bothered by the ongoing cuts to both K-12 and higher education.
"I think for too long the Legislature has toyed with it too much," he said.
"Schools had to go so far as to sue the state and they're still toying with it."

Keller, 62, served in the Air Force for 28 years, retiring as vice wing commander at Fairchild in 1999 and entering a second career in public education administration.He worked as superintendent of the Mansfield School District before coming to Cheney in 2008.Keller said his military experience would help him advocate for Fairchild.

While Keller has never held public office, he said he spoke to current and former elected officials about his idea to run and received encouragement.
He is currently working to organize supporters, develop a website and begin fundraising to support his campaign.
The Committee to Elect Larry Keller has already been formed.

...

Keller said he encouraged citizens to contact him and "start the discussion" by calling 509-688-4349

...

Larry Keller, the superintendent of the Cheney School District, and Spokane attorney Jeff Holy will try to keep Rep.

...

Keller, 62, who once served as vice wing commander at FairchildAir Force Base and became a teacher and school administrator after retiring from the service, was prepared to challenge Ahern, and said he'd stress education and a call for legislators to do a better job of working together.